Projectile.



mmm Mu. N, mim. J. SMD'H. PRGJECIIL. (Appucneioq med Apr. 1, 1898.3

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No ndel.)

NIVEA/Ton 'Bv fcww@ Arran/V529.

. ...war

.r iw.; s QL... .n n

Patned Aug. 29, |899.

' 0. SMITH..

PRJEGTILE.

(Application filed Apr. l, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2l ma modei.)

Mlf@ QC u /9 'U //v VEA/mfr Januar 'UNTTnn STATns PATENT @Trione JAMES (l. SMITH, F PITTSBURG, PENNSYIYANI.

PROJECTI LE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 632,027, dated Angus-t 29, 1899. ppliatn ld April l, 1898. Serial No. 676.099. (No mn lel.\

To (rf/Z 'rcito/n if muy concern:

lle it known that I, JAMES O. SMITH, a citiaen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ll'ojectiles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.'

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in projectiles.

The object of my invention is to construct a projectile which is particularly adapted for ril-les of large caliber (although the principle may be employed forsmaller firearms) which carries an explosive charge which is adapted to be exploded at the 'time of the contact of the projectile with the target or other obstruction.

To this end the invention consists, essentially, in an outer shell, an inner shell which contains the explosive charge, and means by which the same is exploded at the time of contact of the projectile with an obstruction.

'lhe invention further consists in-the novel means by which absolute safety in handling such a projectile is obtained and inthe general construction, which will be hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

ln describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein like gures of reference indicate similar-parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a projectile constructed in accordance with my invention.A Fig. 2 is a transverse scctional view taken upon the line fr a', Fig. l, the explosive charge being omitted. Fig. El is a perspective viewof the inner shell which forms the chamber for the explosive charge. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the firing-rods and primer for the. explosive charge. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a modified form of primer. Fig. (5 is a perspective view ot' the form of primer Ishown in Fig. t. inverted perspective view of the bullet or projectile proper. Fig. S is a perspective view of a portion of the inner shell forming the chamber for the i xplos'ive charge, showinga modified form of construction in this shell.

Fig. T is an Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the door for' closing and opening the inner shellwhen the form of shell shown in liigs. Il and n is cm ployed.

lt is well known that there is agreat dcmand for a cartridge or projectile which will carry suitable explosives without the slight' est injury to the rille or firearm from which the same is expelled and forced with acenraey against the target or obstruction with absolute certainty of the explosion of the charge carried thereby when contact is made with the targetor other obstruction. One of the serious objections to projectiles of this nature has been that the force requisite to propel the projectile from the rilicorlirearm was extremely liable to canse an explosion of the explosive charge, thereby causing a prematurc explosion of the same, or if such force should notcause au explosion thereof then Contact with the target or other obstruction would be equally ineffective in securing the desired explosion at the time of contact. My invention aims to avoid these dilliculties, inasmuch as it is designed to afford absolute protection of thc explosive charge, while at theV same time insuring a certain explosion at the time of contact of the projectile.

ln the drawings, l represents the outer shell, which is formed of any suitable material having the desired rigidity, strength, and lightness, but preferably formed of caststeel, and, as shown, thc same is of the general form as those now employed. The rear or butt portion of this shell is adapted to receive the firing charge 2, which may be exploded by means of the central-fire primer 3,

by a rim-lire or any other desired means. This outer shell is adapted to receive an inner shell l, which like the outer shell may be composed of any material possessing the desired rigidity, strength, and lightness, but ispreferably composed of copper, as such materialv will not in any "Nay injure the ritling of the rille or other firearm when theprojectile is propelled therefrom. This inner shell, as

heretofore stated, is located within the outer shell and fits base orclosed end may either rest upon -the tiring charge 2 or a suitable wad'ding 'may be interposed between the said charge-and the said closed end 'of the inner she-ll.' the outer ends of the outer and inner IOO and the closed end of the shell 4.

shells being preferably [lush with each other. Within this inner shell 4 I arrange an auxiliary shell or casing 5, which is adapted to receive-the explosive charge G. This auxiliary casing or shell 5 extends but partially the length of the shell 4 in order that a sucient amount of the latter maybe left projecting beyond the inner end ofthe former to receive the bullet or projectile 7. The casing or auxiliary shell 5 is also adapted to tit neatly Within the shell 4 and is preferably inserted therein only a sufficient distance to leave the space 8 between the rear end of the casing or shell 5 If desired to aord additional protection in order to prevent the closed end ofthe shell 4 being forced against the closed end of the'casing or aux-I iliary shell 5 by the explosion ot' the main charge 2, a suitable wadding may be interposed in the space S.

The explosive charge G may be introduced into the shell or auxiliary casing 5 either through an opening 9, which may be provided therefor in the side of the easing and which may be closed after the charge has been introduced, by means or' the door 10, having its edges formed in any suitable manner for the purpose of securing the same in the opening 9, or this charge may be introduced at the rear end of the casing or shell 5 and the said end then closed by a cap or plate 11, having a protruding flange 12, that is provided with vthe extern al threads, which engage with internal threads provided therefor on the inner Wall of the said easing or auxiliary shell 5. In order to explode the explosive charge G at the time of contact of the bullet or projectile with the target or other obstruction, I provide the casing or shell 5 either with apertures 14, arranged diametricallyopposite each other, or with the grooves 15, either of which is adapted to receive the firing-rods 16, rods 1G are bent at right angles at their outer ends, as shown at 17, forming the hooks which engage in eyelets 1S provided therefor on the butt end of the bullet or projectile. The apertures 14 or the grooves l5 extend longitudinally of the casing or auxiliary shell nearly to its rear end, where they may open inwardly into the chamber containing the explosive charge (l. The flringrods 1U are also bent inwardly at their rear ends, as shown at l), and engage against and hold the primer 20, which is arranged within the casing or auxiliary shell 5. The impact of the projecting ends 19 of th'e tiring-rods against the primer or percussion eap 2O is adapted to explode the same, and consequently explode the explosive charge G at the time o'f contact of the bullet or-projectile with the target or other obstruction.

The rear end oi' the projectile or bullet 7 is chaml'ered or reduced to form a shoulder 7 n at the point where the bullet or projectile is of the greatest diameter, said shoulder being adapted to receive the outer end ofthe outer shell l and the inner shell 4. In order to give rigidity and strength to the bullet or projectile, I may provide the metal portion of the same with a covering T, composed of hardened steel or other suitable material, and

incase this with a covering of copper 7C. Where such construction is used, the covering of copper 7c is adapted to be' Hush at the rear end thereof with the outer wall of the shell l, the butt portion ot' the bullet or projectile having been previously reduced sufiiciently to allow the placing of the coverings of steel and copper thereon.

' It will be observed from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that all parts are simple in construction, positive in their action, and that absolute protection from premature explosion is afforded; also, that the metal portion of the bullet or` projectile being entirely incased by copper or other suitable material is not, permitted to engage the rifling of the rifle or other firearm. l

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described projectile,compris ing an outer shell which receives the firing charge, an inner shell of less length than the outer shell, a charge-containing casing within the inner shell, an explosive charge within said casing, a bullet or projectile secured in the inner shell, a primer arranged within the charge-containing casing or shell, and connections between said primer and the bullet or projectile whereby the former is exploded when the projectile or bullet comes in contact with a target or other obstruction, substantially as shown and described.

2. rIheherein-deseribed projectile,thesame comprising in combination an outer shell, an inner shell of less length, a casing or auxiliary shell within theinner shell adapted to receive an explosive charge, a suitable bullet or projectile engaging the inner shell, a primer ar- IOO IIO

ranged within 'the casing or auxiliary shell,

Witnesses; Y

A. M. Witsox, WILLIai-I'QE. MrNon.

IIS 

